Watford vs Liverpool: Result and reaction from Premier League fixture

All the reaction from the extraordinary game at Vicarage Road

Ismaila Sarr celebrates scoring Watford's first goal (Getty Images)

Liverpool's unbeaten run of success in this season's Premier League was ended in unfathomable fashion on Saturday as struggling Watford hammered the European champions 3-0 at their ecstatic Vicarage Road stadium.

Ismaila Sarr inspired the extraordinary upset, stunning Liverpool with two goals in six second-half minutes before he set up captain Troy Deeney with a third for the team who had started the day one from bottom, 55 points behind the runaway leaders.

Liverpool's first league defeat of the season meant the end of their hopes of going the whole league campaign as unbeaten as the new 'Invincibles' after 44 league matches without a defeat.

It also came on the evening when they were expected to surpass champions Manchester City by creating a new English top-flight record of 19 successive league victories.

The setback will doubtless not stop Juergen Klopp's men going on to lift their first English title for 30 years as they still remain 22 points ahead of their nearest pursuers, yet their season's aura of domestic invincibility has now been demolished.

Liverpool had previously dropped only two points in the league this season -- their draw at Manchester United in October -- but from the start, Watford attacked them with unexpected vigour.

Watford had looked the more likely to break the deadlock in the first half with Gerard Deulofeu proving Liverpool's main tormentor before he was taken off by stretcher with a knee injury.

Yet it was only when Sarr struck twice just before the hour mark and then turned provider for Deeney to shoot home a third that the 'mission impossible' became a reality.

How to watch

Which TV channel is it on?

The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, and HD channels.

Can I stream the game online?

Sky Sports subscribers can watch the game via the Sky Sports website and the Sky Go app.

Key Points

• Watford 3-0 Liverpool
• Ismaila Sarr scores two and sets up third in sensational display

[29 February 2020 16:06 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Welcome along to live coverage of Watford vs Liverpool. Michael will be along shortly with all the build-up and team news from Vicarage Road...

[29 February 2020 16:16 · Michael Jones]

The team news will be confirmed at around 4.30pm but here's what we know so far:

Ismaila Sarr looks set to start for Nigel Pearson's Watford after returning from injury against Manchester United last week. 

Right-back Daryl Janmaat returned to training earlier this week but isn't expected to play. 

For Liverpool, James Milner is absent again as he continues to recover from a slight muscle problem. He is expected to be back for Liverpool's FA Cup tie with Chelsea on Tuesday.

Also out are Jordan Henderson and Xherdan Shaqiri.

[29 February 2020 16:21 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool are only 12-points away from securing the Premier League title and they'll see today's game as a great chance to pick up three of them.

Watford haven't won since January 12th and picked up just two points in five league games since. Liverpool remain unbeaten in the league this season only dropping points in a 1-1 draw against Manchester United back in October 2019.

[29 February 2020 16:23 · Michael Jones]

Everything you need to know to follow the evening kick off: 

[29 February 2020 16:30 · Michael Jones]

Team news- Watford

[29 February 2020 16:31 · Michael Jones]

Team news - Liverpool

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

Subs: Adrian, Minamino, Lallana, Origi, Matip, Jones, Hoever.

[29 February 2020 16:34 · Michael Jones]

Team news

Watford make two changes from the team that started against Manchester United last time out. Femenía and Sarr come into the starting line-up with Dawson and Pereyra dropping out.

There are two changes for the league leaders as well. Lovren starts at centre-back as Gomez is ruled out due to a fitness issue. Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Keita who has a sore hip. 

[29 February 2020 16:42 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, is expecting a 'tough and very physical' game when his side face Watford at Vicarage Road later today but he says his side will be prepared for it: 

"We have to be 100% ready for these fights. That's what I love about my boys, when it's not clicking they don't lose desire, it is the other way.

"It will be tough and very physical - they'll show how much it means for them, we have to make sure we show what it means for us."

[29 February 2020 16:47 · Michael Jones]

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have some great memories against Watford. Under Klopp, they've scored more goals against the Hornets than versus any other side, 27 in nine games.

Watford, for their part, have lost a club record 19 top-flight games to Liverpool who are unbeaten in the last eight meetings between the sides.

The four most recent matches have seen Liverpool rack up an aggregate score of 15-0. We could be in for some goals today.

[29 February 2020 16:53 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool are unbeaten in eight league games against Watford and we can't see that changing today: